What can I cook in a cast iron skillet?

Question

My wife bought me a cast iron skillet a while ago and is upset that I have not yet used it. I like to cook, but I have never really used cast iron. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Answer 1

cast iron is great once u get the hang of it..but hey if u want score brownies and make the wife happy..make her breakfast with this pan..omelette's are awesome..eggs bacon.. pancakes..anything u can cook in a regular fry pan ..(n sautéed onions wow)..just coat with butter, oil or spray pan 1st.. n cast iron can be rinsed n cleaned very easily..a good cast iron is often treated by owner..apply some oil ..not much ..after a few uses.. those who truly love their pans even put in oven , oiled thinly on low heat to treat it..if you into fishing..nothing is as good over a fire as fresh fish with butter in a cast ....just remember ..the pan once u heat it up..turn down the heat ..do not need to cook on high..enjoy

Answer 2

Yes, definitely season it first. Cornbread is best in an iron skillet. Fried chicken also never tasted quite as good as it does fried in cast iron. Fried potatoes are also very good. You can cook anything is an iron skillet that you could in any other skillet. You just have to be careful about the heat. Never let one soak in water at all. They will rust and you will have to re-season it. Wash and dry completely after using right away.

Answer 3

There is virtually nothing that you can't cook in a cast iron skillet. Great for frying potatoes & corn bread. Always wash by hand and towel dry. Never put a cast iron skillet in the dish washer.

Answer 4

Season the pan first, using the following process!

- rinse skillet with warm soapy water
- dry skillet well
- rub with a generous amount of oil
- leave on a burner over low heat for at least an hour, or you can bake it in the oven at 350 degrees for two hours
- let it cool
- pour out any leftover oil
- repeat this process several times before using the skillet

Cornbread is awesome in a cast iron skillet. Trust me. I also like to do steaks with steak rub (spices...not marinade)

Answer 5

Cooking in a cast iron skillet is a great alternative to grilling in the cold weather. Be sure to season the pan first.
One of my favorite things to do in a skillet is blacken fish. Heat up the skillet, brush some fish such as snapper, mahi, halibut, etc. with melted butter. Then sprinkle some seasoning on the fish, you can make your own, also, try Paul Prudhomme's Blackened Redfish Magic. Blacken the fish (turn on the vent over your stove because it will smoke).

Answer 6

just use it on the stove top or you can even use it in the oven. cast iron is pretty cool, but when you clean it don't use detergent or put it in the dishwasher because the detergent stays in the cast iron and can make your food taste like it. You need to season it first and all you do for that is coat it with veg oil or olive oil (indside) and cook it in the oven at about 425 deg f for aprox 20 min, do this about three times and it should be good to go. also when you clean it scrub it out with a scouring pad or steel wool and to dry it without rusting it put it on the heat on the stove top until its dry and there you are!

Answer 7

Pineapple upside cake is awesome in a cast iron skillet. Cornbread, too.

Answer 8

In my house my mom used cast iron for almost all of here cooking,
We cooked, Chicken Friend steaks, fried chicken, hamburgers, potatoes , okay so any fried fods.. work well.
Also pineapple upside down cake bakes wonderfully in a cast iron... and try popping some popcorn in one.. yummy.

They do not work well for things that have lots of liquid in them.

Answer 9

Season it well first! Trust me. I love mine for cornbread. I place my cast iron pan in the oven as it preheats. Then, pour the batter right in the hot pan so it sizzles. Mmmm. It makes a delicious crunchy crust on the bottom of the cornbread.

Answer 10

You can cook anything in a cast iron skillet. I have cooked cornbread, chili, sausage gravy, any and all types of breakfast foods. they are wonderful.